AP CSP Vocab

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options.

Decimal

A way of representing information using ten options.

Bit

A contraction of 'Binary Digit'; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.

Byte

8 bits.

Overflow Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.

Round-off Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise; the value is rounded.

Analog Data

Data with values that change continuously, such as music, colors of a painting, or position of a sprinter during a race.

Digital Data

Data that changes discretely through a finite set of possible values.

Sampling

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals.

Lossless Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information.

Lossy Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost.

Intellectual Property

A work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as writing or design, for which one has rights.

Creative Commons

A collection of public copyright licenses enabling the free distribution of copyrighted works.

Computing Device

A machine that can run a program, like computers, tablets, or routers.

Computing System

A group of computing devices and programs working together.

Computing Network

A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.

Path

The series of connections between computing devices on a network.

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time.

Protocol

An agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of some system.

IP Address

The unique number assigned to each device on the Internet.

Internet Protocol (IP)

A protocol for sending data across the Internet.

Router

A type of computer that forwards data across a network.

Packet

A chunk of data sent over a network.

Redundancy

The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if individual components fail.

Fault Tolerant

Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures.

Domain Name System (DNS)

The system responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol, used for transmitting web pages.

Internet

A computer network consisting of interconnected networks.

World Wide Web

A system of linked pages, programs, and files.

Digital Divide

Differing access to computing devices and the Internet based on various characteristics.

User Interface

The inputs and outputs allowing a user to interact with software.

Input

Data sent to a computer for processing by a program.

Output

Any data sent from a program to a device.

Program Statement

A command or instruction in programming.

Program

A collection of program statements that run one command at a time.

Sequential Programming

Program statements run in order from top to bottom.

Event Driven Programming

Some program statements run when triggered by an event.

Documentation

A written description of how a command or piece of code works.

Comment

Program documentation written for people that does not affect program execution.

Pair Programming

A collaborative programming style where two programmers switch roles.

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in an algorithm or program.

Development process

Steps or phases used to create a piece of software.

Event

Associated with an action and supplies input data to a program.

Expression

A combination of operators and values that evaluates to a single value.

Assignment Operator

Allows changing the value represented by a variable.

Variable

A named reference to a value used repeatedly in a program.

String

An ordered sequence of characters.

Boolean Value

A data type that is either true or false.

Comparison Operators

Operators indicating a Boolean expression:

Logical operator

Operators that evaluate to a Boolean value: NOT, AND, OR.

Conditional Statement

A statement that executes different statements based on a Boolean expression.

Function

A named group of programming instructions.

Function Call

A command that executes the code within a function.

Metadata

Data about data.

Citizen Science

Scientific research conducted by distributed individuals who contribute data.

Cleaning Data

A process that makes data uniform without changing its meaning.

Correlation

A relationship between two pieces of data.

Crowdsourcing

Obtaining input from a large number of people via the Internet.

Information

The collection of facts and patterns extracted from data.

Data bias

Data that does not accurately reflect the population being studied.

Data filtering

Choosing a smaller subset of a data set for analysis.

List

An ordered collection of elements.

Element

An individual value in a list assigned a unique index.

Index

A method for referencing elements in a list using numbers.

Iteration

A repetitive portion of an algorithm that repeats a specified number of times.

Infinite loop

Occurs when the end condition will never evaluate to true.

Traversal

The process of accessing each item in a list one at a time.

Data abstraction

Managing complexity in programs by giving data a name without detailing representation.

Parameter

A variable in a function definition used as a placeholder.

Argument

The value passed to the parameter.

Return

Used to return the flow of control to the point where the procedure was called.

Procedural abstraction

Allows a procedure to be used only knowing what it does, not how it does it.

Library

A group of functions that may be used in creating new programs.

API

Application Program Interface - specifications for how functions in a library behave.

Modularity

The subdivision of a computer program into separate subprograms.

Computing Innovation

Includes a program as an integral part of its function.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Information about an individual that identifies or describes them.

Phishing

A technique that tricks a user into providing personal information.

Keylogging

The use of a program to record every keystroke made by a user.

Malware

Software intended to damage a computing system.

Rogue Access Point

A wireless access point giving unauthorized access to secure networks.

Encryption

A process of encoding messages to keep them secret.

Decryption

A process that reverses encryption to reproduce the original message.

Symmetric Key Encryption

Involves one key for both encryption and decryption.

Public Key Encryption

Pairs a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Multi-factor Authentication

Requires at least two steps to unlock protected information.

Computer Virus Scanning Software

Protects a computing system against infection.

Problem

A general description of a task that can (or cannot) be solved with an algorithm.

Algorithm

A finite set of instructions that accomplish a task.

Sequencing

Putting steps in an order.

Selection

Deciding which steps to do next.

Iteration

Doing some steps over and over.

Efficiency

A measure of how many steps are needed to complete an algorithm.

Linear Search

A search algorithm that checks each element of a list in order.

Binary Search

A search algorithm that starts at the middle of a sorted set and removes half of the data.

Reasonable Time

Algorithms with polynomial efficiency or lower are said to run in reasonable time.

Unreasonable Time

Algorithms with exponential or factorial efficiencies that run in an unreasonable amount of time.

Heuristic

Provides a 'good enough' solution to a problem when the actual solution is impractical.

Decision Problem

A problem with a yes/no answer.

Optimization Problem

A problem with the goal of finding the 'best' solution among many.